Giggs hopes latest big night not wrecked by new Ronaldo

The last time Manchester United played Real Madrid at Old Trafford, almost 10 years ago, they fell to a Ronaldo hat-trick in one of the greatest games the Champions League has ever seen; but this time Ryan Giggs, in his 1,000th career match, is planning a different outcome.

Nobody who was at Old Trafford that amazing night in April 2003 will ever forget the sheer electric drama of a match that United won 4-3 against the Galacticos but which ended with Real going through to the semi-finals 6-5 on aggregate, despite two late goals from substitute David Beckham.

The original Ronaldo was, in the end, the difference between the sides as the Brazilian striker scored a hat-trick of stunning quality, prompted by the inspiration of Figo, Zidane and Roberto Carlos.